Refrigerator having a door with integrated control panel

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door mounted to the cabinet for pivotal movement about a pivot axis, and a control panel carried by the door. A plurality of wires is in electrical communication with the control panel. The plurality of wires passing through the door and exits a lower portion of the door. A hinge bracket is carried by the cabinet and supports the door at a hinge pin. The plurality of wires passes immediately below the hinge bracket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/774,892 filed Feb. 17, 2006. U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/774,892 is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject disclosure relates to refrigerators. More particularly, the subject disclosure relates to a refrigerator having a door with an integrated control panel.

INTRODUCTION

Modern refrigerators, including but not limited to absorption refrigerators may include electronic controls. The electronic controls may be mounted to the cabinet of the refrigerator. With many such conventional arrangements, it is necessary to open the refrigerator door to access the electronic controls. In other conventional arrangements, the electronic controls extend upwardly from a top of the cabinet and necessarily increase the height of the refrigerator. Positioning of the electronic controls of a refrigerator on a door of the refrigerator would overcome these disadvantages associated with conventional arrangements.

It is also desirable to provide a refrigerator with a door that can be easily and alternatively mounted to the cabinet for rotation about a right hand pivot axis or a left hand pivot access. Such flexibility in mounting of the door in turn provides flexibility to incorporate the refrigerator into various kitchen layouts. Insofar as door carried electronic controls are connected to the refrigerator control panel and a source of power through a cord, incorporation of such a feature into a refrigerator design including a door that can be alternatively mounted becomes problematic.

Accordingly, it is desirable in the pertinent art to provide a refrigerator having a door carrying electronic controls that may be alternatively mounted to a cabinet of the refrigerator for rotation about a left hand pivot axis or a right hand pivot axis.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, the present teachings provide a refrigerator including a cabinet, a door mounted to the cabinet for pivotal movement about a pivot axis, and a control panel carried by the door. A plurality of wires is in electrical communication with the control panel. The plurality of wires passing through the door and exits a lower portion of the door. A hinge bracket is carried by the cabinet and supports the door at a hinge pin. The plurality of wires passes immediately below the hinge bracket.

According to another aspect, the present teachings provide a method of selectively mounting a door of a refrigerator to a cabinet for rotation about one of a right hand pivot axis and a left hand pivot axis. The door includes a control panel and a plurality of wires in electrical communication with the control panel. The method includes mounting a first bracket to a lower portion of the cabinet proximate a right side of the cabinet. The method additionally includes mounting a second bracket to the lower portion of the cabinet proximate a left side of the cabinet. The method further includes pivotally supporting the door on one of the first and second brackets for rotation about a pivot axis, and routing the plurality of wires immediately below the one of the first and second brackets such that the pivot axis intersects the plurality of wires.

Further areas of applicability of the present teachings will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a portion of a refrigerator having a door with an integrated control panel according to the present teachings, the door mounted for pivoting about a right hand pivot axis.

FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings.

FIG. 3 shows a bottom perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings.

FIG. 4 shows another bottom perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings further illustrating a hinge side of the door.

FIG. 5 shows another bottom perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings, a trim portion of the door removed for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 6 shows another bottom perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings with a trim portion of the door removed and further illustrating the cord retaining feature of the door.

FIG. 7 shows another bottom perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings.

FIG. 8 shows another bottom perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings, a cord retaining member shown displaced from a cooperating bracket for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 9 shows another bottom perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings, further illustrating a door support member located at the side of the door opposite the hinge.

FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings, the refrigerator shown partially exploded and with the door removed, the refrigerator further shown to be adapted to mount the door for pivoting about a left hand pivot axis.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a door of the refrigerator according to the present teachings.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a control assembly of the refrigerator according to the present teachings.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a cord support member according to the present teachings.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a lower hinge bracket according to the present teachings.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

The following description of various embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

With general reference to the drawings, a refrigerator in accordance to the present teachings is illustrated and generally identified at reference character 10. The refrigerator 10 generally includes a door 12. The door 12 has an integrated control panel 14. In a manner that will be more fully appreciated below, the control panel 14 is wired to a power board (not particular shown) of the refrigerator 10. As perhaps best shown in the exploded view of FIG. 12, the integrated control panel 14 may include an LCD display 16, a pair of manually operates buttons 17, and an overlay 19.

The body portion 15 of the control panel 14 may be mounted to the remainder of the door 12 with fasteners 21 or in any manner well known in the art. The body portion 15 may define a recess for receiving the overlay 19. The body portion 15 may additionally define apertures for receiving the buttons 17.

The integrated control panel 14 is carried by the door 12 rather than the cabinet 24 and may otherwise be conventionally used to control particular operations of the refrigerator 10. For example, the control panel 14 may control turning of the refrigerator 10 on and off. Additionally, in the case of an absorption refrigerator, the control panel 14 may control selection of the power source (e.g., gas or electricity) for the refrigerator 10 and temperature of the refrigerator 10. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the control panel 14 may be operative to control these or other operations of the refrigerator 10. Again, the manner of controlling the particular features of the refrigerator 10 will be considered conventional insofar as the present disclosure is concerned.

In FIGS. 1 through 9, the door 12 of the refrigerator 10 is shown to be mounted for rotation about a right hand pivot axis 18. In this manner, a door latch 20 is mounted at a left side of the door 12. In a manner to be addressed more fully below, the door 10 may easily be alternatively mounted such that the pivot axis 18 is a left hand pivot axis. An arrangement for left hand mounting is shown in FIG. 10, for example.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, an upper perspective view of the refrigerator 10 more clearly illustrates an upper hinge bracket 22. The upper hinge bracket 22 may be mounted at a first end 22A to a cabinet 24 of the refrigerator 10. The upper hinge bracket 22 can be mounted with screws 27 or in any other suitable manner known in the art. A second end 22B of the upper hinge bracket 22 extends from the cabinet 24 and rotatably supports the door 12 for movement between open and closed positions. The upper hinge bracket 22 may be constructed of metal or any other suitable material.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3, 4 and 14, a lower hinge bracket 23 is mounted proximate a lower portion of the cabinet. As illustrated, the lower hinge bracket 23 may be mounted to an underside of the cabinet 24. As with the upper hinge bracket 22, the lower hinge bracket 23 may be mounted with screws 27 or in any other suitable manner well known in the art. The lower hinge bracket 23 may be constructed of metal and includes an upper surface for rotatably supporting the door 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the door 10 may be provided with pivot pins 25 that extend from the door 10 along the pivot axis 18 and cooperate with the upper and lower hinge brackets 22 and 23. The construction of the lower hinge bracket 23 will be further described below.

The door 10 may include a frame 26. The frame 26 may include a plurality of discrete parts that are assembled to define the frame 26. The frame 26 may include a top cap 58 and a bottom cap 60. A gasket 62 may be captured between the frame 26 and a door liner 64. The bottom cap 58 is shown removed from the frame 26 in FIGS. 5 through 7 for purposes of illustration. A door panel 28 may be snapped to the remainder of the frame 26 or otherwise removable secured thereto. The panel 28 may interchangeably provide a wood grain or other appearance as desired for a particular application.

A plurality of wires 30 extend between control panel 14 and the refrigerator power board. The plurality of wires 30 may be encased in a wire harness or cord 32. The plurality of wires 30 downward extend from the control panel 14, through an interior of the door defined between the panel 28 and the liner 64, and exit the frame 26 at an opening 34 (see FIG. 5, for example). From the opening 34, the plurality of wires 30 extends toward the hinge side of the door 10. The plurality of wires 30 extend through an opening defined between the lower hinge bracket 23 and a cooperating cord support member 36, shown in FIGS. 8 and 13, for example. The plurality of wires 30 pass immediately below the lower hinge point for the door 12 with the pivot axis 18 intersecting the plurality of wires. Explaining further, the pivot axis 18 passes the collection of wires (not necessarily through each wires of the plurality of wires 30).

The cord support member 36 may be constructed of plastic and may include ribs 38 or other retaining features for positively locating the cord 32 relative thereto. The cord support member 36 may additionally include tabs 40 or other features to allow a snap fit relationship with the lower hinge bracket 23. The tabs 40 may engage slots 42 defined by the lower hinge bracket 23. The lower hinge bracket 23 and the cord support member 36 cooperatively define a channel through which the cord 32 passes.

The frame 26 may be integrally formed to include a cord retention portion 44. In this regard, a lower segment of the frame 26 may be formed to include the cord retention portion 44 through injection molding or otherwise. The cord retention portion 44 is perhaps shown most clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6. The cord 32 may be press fit into the cord retention portion 44. The cord retention portion 44 may include a pair of walls 46 between which the cord 32 may be retained. The cord retention portion 44 may further include a pair of retention clips 48. The cord 32 may be provided with an increased diameter portion 50 that can be positioned between the clips 48 for positively locating the cord relative to the cord retention portion 44 along its length. Through positive location of the cord relative both the cord retention portion 44 and the lower hinge bracket 23, sufficient cord is ensured for rotation of the door 10 between the open and closed positions.

With particular reference to FIG. 9, a door support bracket 52 is illustrated. The door support bracket 52 may be substantially identical in construction to the lower hinge bracket 23. The door support bracket 52 cooperates with a door support arm 54. The door support arm 54 may be secured to the bracket 23 with screws or other suitable means and may forwardly extend therefrom. The door support arm 54 may operate to support a pin 56 that downwardly extends from the door 12 on the side opposite the hinge. In this manner, the door 12 may maintain is proper positioning relative to the cabinet 24 when fully loaded. The pin 56 may be similar to the pins 25.

While a refrigerator 10 having a right hand side located hinge is particularly illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9, for particular applications it may be desirable to open the door 12 with a left hand side hinge. It will be understood that the refrigerator 10 may be quickly and easily so adapted without the need for additional parts. In this regard, an identical cabinet 24 may be used with a similar door 12 constructed such that the latch 20 is positioned on the right hand side of the refrigerator 10. The brackets 23 and 52 mounted to the bottom of the cabinet 24 may simply be exchanged. The molded in retention features of the left hand door 10 may be provided on the opposite side to that shown in the drawings. Alternatively, the molded in retention features can be provided on both sides of the frame 26 for part consistency. In either manner, the plurality of wires 30 may be routed in the opposite direction and ultimately to the control board to facilitate opening and closing of the door 10.

The present teachings provide for the manufacture of a common cabinet 24 that may selectively receive a door 12 for either right hand or left hand mounting. Insofar as the lower brackets 23 and 52 are identical, these components may be mounted to each of the manufactured cabinets. Where a right hand door 12 is desired, the upper bracket 22 is mounted proximate the right hand side of the cabinet. Conversely, the upper bracket 22 may be moved to the left hand side for left hand mounting.

A common door 12 or doors of substantially similar construction may be utilized for the alternative right and left hand mounting. For certain applications, an upper hand mounting. For certain applications, an upper segment of the frame 26 may be adapted to accommodate mounting of the latch 20 on either the left or right hand side of the door.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary arrangements of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings, that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

While specific examples have been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalence may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present teachings as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elements and/or functions between various examples may be expressly contemplated herein so that one skilled in the art would appreciate from the present teachings that features, elements and/or functions of one example may be incorporated into another example as appropriate, unless described otherwise above. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the present teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it may be intended that the present teachings not be limited to the particular examples illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode of presently contemplated for carrying out the present teachings but that the scope of the present disclosure will include any embodiments following within the foregoing description and the appended claims. 

1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a door mounted to the cabinet for pivotal movement about a pivot axis; a control panel carried by the door; and a plurality of wires adapted to electrically communication the control panel with a power board carried by the cabinet; wherein the door may be selectively mounted to the cabinet for rotation about one of a right hand pivot and a left hand pivot.
 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a hinge bracket carried proximate a lower portion of the cabinet and supporting the door for pivotal movement.
 3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the hinge bracket at least partially defines a channel through which the plurality of wires pass.
 4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the pivot axis passes through the channel.
 5. The refrigerator of claim 2, further comprising a cord support member coupled to the hinge bracket, the cord support member and the hinge bracket defining a channel through which the plurality of wires pass, the pivot axis intersecting the channel.
 6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the door includes a frame, the control panel connected to the frame proximate a tip portion of the frame.
 7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wires extend from the control panel, through the door, and exit at the lower portion of the door.
 8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the door includes a frame having a portion defining a retention feature for retaining the plurality of wires.
 9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the frame further includes a bottom cap secured to a lower portion of the frame and covering the plurality of wires.
 10. A method of selectively mounting a door of a refrigerator to a cabinet for rotation about one of a right hand pivot axis and a left hand pivot axis, the door including a control panel and a plurality of wires in electrical communication with the control panel; mounting a first bracket to a lower portion of the cabinet proximate a right side of the cabinet; mounting a second bracket to the lower portion of the cabinet proximate a left side of the cabinet; pivotally supporting the door on one of the first and second brackets for rotation about a pivot axis; and routing the plurality of wires immediately below the one of the first and second brackets such that the pivot axis intersects the plurality of wires. 